Wednesday, 19 October 2016

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1956 Shepherd Neame MB

For two reasons. Today is my 60th birthday and this beer was brewed on the day that I was born, October 19th 1956. That it’s a Mild just makes it even more appropriate.

In most other respects, it’s not that special a beer. It isn’t particularly strong, though the gravity had increased a tad since 1947. Just about enough to tip it over into intoxicating land. It just manages to scrape in over 3% ABV, usually my bottom limit for bothering.

Shepherd Neame didn’t go for complicated recipes. This one just has a single type of pale malt, a dash of malt extract, No. 3 invert sugar and something called UKCS which must be some type of proprietary sugar. I’ve just bumped up the No. 3 content to allow for this.

At this point Shep’s seem to have only been using hops from their own gardens. At least that’s all that turns up in the photos I have. It makes perfect sense, the brewery being located in Kentish hop country. I am surprised by the modest level of their hopping. I’ve always imagined breweries in Kent being enthusiastic hoppers.

I quite like the fact that it’s such an ordinary beer. One meant for supping by the gallon down the pub with your mates. It seems appropriate for a beer born on the same day as me.